510 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



Farms are not generally well supplied with orchards and fruit gardens, 

 but while orcharding may have declined, fruit gardening has certainly 

 much advanced in the last ten years. Orchards are not generally well 

 cared for. Where a farmer has but a few trees or small orchard, he is 

 almost certain to neglect to properly care for his trees. 



From my observation farmers are yearly planting trees, apples, 

 peaches, pears, etc., but to neglect them or let them take their chances. 

 " 'Twas ever thus." ^ 



There are but few commercial orchards in the county. There is a plum 

 orchard in the west part of the county, owned by W. E. Kinsey, address 

 Hudson, Ind.; the Highland Fruit Farm, once owned by L. D. Creel, now 

 owned by Samuel Geely, Fremont, Ind., Who is continuing the business 

 of orcharding small fruits, etc. Jerry Dutter, Angola, Ind., is a raiser 

 of fruits and berries. He has been in the business for many years and 

 has made a success of it. The business is profitable if conducted with 

 care and system. With regard to the price of land suitable for the busi- 

 ness, will say that such land might be bought a few miles from a town 

 or railroad station for $50 per acre; would be worth $75 or more near 

 Angola. 



There is no movement in the beautifying of school grounds, as far 

 as I have observed, and very little in roads or parks. The movement 

 with respect to schoolhouses seems to be in providing them with libraries, 

 which has been quite successful. • I will not point out the difficulties 

 of beautifying school grounds; they must be obvious to you. There are 

 no horticultural societies in this county that I know of. A good, live 

 horticultural society would no doubt be of gi-eat benefit in this county 

 in increasing the interest in fruit growing, and would lead to better 

 methods of cultui-e and lead up to a higher appreciation of this noble 

 vocation. More civic organizations and more discussion of these subjects 

 at our Farmers' Institutes would awaken an interest in the matter of 

 beautifying our homes by the raising of flowers and fruits, and through 

 this awakening to the making of the waste places glad, of which there 

 are many, both along public roads and on farms and about farmhouses. 

 There are two florists at Angola— Judge S. A. Powers, who is engaged in 

 the business, and Mr. Ford <;^arpenter, living one and one-half miles out 

 of the town, who js engaged in the business of rai,<;ing flowers. His spe- 

 cialty is carnations, of which he has a great number. Both of these gen- 

 tlemen have a genuine love for the business, no doubt, and are making 

 a success of it. Would be glad if my knowledge of horticulture were such 

 as to enable me to give you more information. Have written this very 

 hastily, and if it will do you any good shall be gratified. 



Yours very truly, 



CHAS. M'CLUE. 



Fremont, Ind.. R. F. D. 4. 



